James timms



UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

JAMES TIMMS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BUCKEYE OAR COUPLERCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CARI-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,357, dated November17', 1891.

Application filed July 25, 1891.

Serial No. 460,708. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES TIMMS, of Columbus, in the county of Franklinand State of Ohio,haveinvented certain new and usefullmprovements inOar-Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements-in automatic hook car-couplers; andit consists in certain features of construction and in combination ofparts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of ahook-coupler embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of theknuckle thereof detached.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views in perspective of 'the locking-plate andattachments, showing, respectively, the locking-plate in its normal andin its elevated positions.

Arepresents the draw-head, chambered to receive the hook or knuckle B,the latter being pivoted on a vertical pin a, this knuckle having alaterally-projecting locking-arm B.

C is a tilting gravity-plate, the point of this plate at 0' beingstepped in a depression a made in the lower wall of the draw-head,whereby the plate is pivoted so as to tilt in a vertical plane. A link Dconnects with plate C for operating the latter, this link extendingoutflthrough a hole in the side wall of the draw-head. When thelocking-arm B is turned backinto the recess of the draw-head, as incoupling, plate O tilts downward by gravity and falls in front of arm Bthereby looking the knuckle in its closed position. When plate 0 istilted upward and arm B is swung outward, plate 0 rides on the arm B,and

consequently plate O is always in its elevated position when the knuckleis opened. Heretofore a spring of some kind has usually been employed toforce the knuckle open when the knuckle has been unlocked. Such springwas necessarily strained in closing the knuckle, and a spring havingtension and at the same time being subjected to the jarring and knockingincident to car-couplers while the train is in motion is likely to become weak a'nd eventually to break. Hence a spring of any kind wouldseem ill-adapted to this purpose; 'I have therefore devised other meansof opening the knuckle, to wit: The 1nner face of locking-plate O isrecessed, as at c, to receive a link E, the latter being adapted toslide endwise in the recess. This link hasa longitudinal curved slot E,and plate 0 has a pin 0', adapted to operate in the slot of the link.The normal position of link E is shown in Fig. 3, where pin 0 engages oris near to the lower end wall of slot'E. Link E has a toe e, thatprojects somewhat under arm B, this arm being cut away on the under edgefor the purpose. As shown in Fig. 2,-arm B, where it is cut away toreceive toe 6, presents a sharp incline at h, and from thence presents amore gradual incline, as at b. When the knuckle is in its closedposition and locked, the sharp section b of the incline comes oppositeor above toe e. In tilting upward plate O to unlock the knuckle, link E,by reason of its gravity, remains stationary until link E has beenelevated above arm B, at-which point pine engages the top wall of slotE, after which a further upward movement of plate 0 elevates link E, andthe toe of the link by engaging the inoline of arm B forces the armoutward, thereby opening the knuckle, and the latter will remain openuntil it is closed, for instance, by engaging an opposing knuckle in'coupling the cars. Then the knuckle 1 s closed and plate 0 falls infront of arm B link E is thereby returned to its normal position. (Shownin Fig. 4c.

The device is simple, inexpensive, and effective, and is not likely toget out of order.

What I claim is- 1. Inan. automatic hook car-coupler, thecombination,with a knuckle having a lockingarm, the latter having aninclined lower edge, of a tilting locking-plate bearing a Slldllilglink, the latter having a toe or projectlng member-in position to engagethe incline of the knuckle arm, by which engagement the knuckle isopened in tilting the locking-plate upward, substantially as set forth.

2. In an automatic hook car-coupler, in combination, a knuckle providedwith a lateral locking-arm, such arm having an inclined lower edge, atilting gravity locking-plate.

having a recess, a link operative in suchreeess, such link havingaslotand the looking- I predetermined elevation of the locking-plate, platehaving a pin operative in such slot, the such link having a projectingmember for link having a toe adapted to engage the in engagingtheincline of the knuckle-arm, subcline of a knuckle-arm, substantiallyas set stantially as set forth. 5 forth. In testimony whereof I signthis specifica- 3. In combination, a knuckle and knuekletion, in thepresence of two Witnesses, this id arm having an inclined edge, atilting gravday of July, 189].

ity locking-plate having a sliding link, such JAMEF TIhlMS.

link having a slot and the locking-plate hav- \Vitnesses: IO ing a pinoperative in such slot and adapted C. II. DoREn,

to engage the upper end wallet the slot at a WARD HOOVER.

